BOSTON, June 11, 2004 — Known as an architect of the singer/songwriter sound of the 70's, Danny "Kootch" Kortchmar is in the midst of a three-day visiting artist residency at Berklee College of Music where he is producing a song written by student Buffy Hubelbank. Music Production and Engineering Chair Rob Jaczko, who engineered the song, enlisted pal Kortchmar to give students a look at his production techniques by him recording a track from scratch. Kortchmar selected Hubelbank's song "Violet" after he heard it on the Berklee Studio Production Projects 2003 demo CD. Music Production and Engineering major and vocalist Hubelbank, from New Britain, CT, has a style reminiscent of Beth Orton, Merrie Amsterburg, or Bic Runga.

Press: to inquire about photo availability and usage, please e-mail us. Renowned producer Danny Kortchmar (right) is producing a song written by Berklee College of Music student Buffy Hubelbank (left). Photo by Nick Balkin

Ace session guitarist, songwriter and producer Danny Kortchmar helped create the signature sound of the singer/songwriter era of the 1970's. A native of New York City, he first emerged during the mid-1960s, playing in several bands, including the Flying Machine, featuring James Taylor, and trio The City, with Carole King. Kotchmar continued backing King on her subsequent solo career; in 1970, Kortchmar also reunited with Taylor for his breakthrough album Sweet Baby James, and with his subsequent work on King's landmark Tapestry, he established himself among the top West Coast session guitarists of the period. As a backing musician, he lent his talents to records from artists including Linda Ronstadt, Warren Zevon, Harry Nilsson, Bonnie Raitt, and Jackson Browne. Kortchmar also branched out into production, helming material for a variety of motion picture soundtracks as well as albums by Neil Young, Jon Bon Jovi, Billy Joel, Carly Simon and Joe Cocker. By the mid-1990s he was also producing a new generation of performers, including Freedy Johnston and the Spin Doctors and continues to be in demand as a producer, recent albums include Dada, Evan & Jaron and Hanson.

Students have been cramming Recording Studio A and a corridor outside the room where a video monitor and speakers have been installed for them to watch the all-day marathon sessions. The sessions are also being taped for a potential Berklee Media Master Producers DVD series.

Berklee College of Music was founded on the revolutionary principle that the best way to prepare students for careers in music was through the study and practice of contemporary music. For over half a century, the college has evolved constantly to reflect the state of the art of music and the music business. With over a dozen performance and nonperformance majors, a diverse and talented student body representing over 70 countries, and a music industry "who's who" of alumni, Berklee is the world's premier learning lab for the music of today — and tomorrow.

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